For some people, it's the blooming flowers of springtime. For others, it's a hug from a dog or a cat. For many people, it might be a peanut hidden in a dessert. What are we talking about? These are just a few things that might trigger allergies!

You're probably familiar with allergies in some way, shape, or form. If you're like most people, you might be allergic to something, or even a few things. If you're not allergic to anything personally, you probably know someone who suffers from allergies.

Do you have a parent who's allergic to cats? How about a neighbor who's allergic to pollen from blooming springtime flowers? Perhaps you have a classmate who's allergic to peanuts or another type of food?

When your body experiences an allergic reaction, what's actually happening is your body'simmune system is interpreting something usually considered harmless — such as cat hair or a peanut — as a harmful threat to your body. These things that trigger allergic reactions are called allergens.

Mistakenly trying to protect you from a harmless allergen, your immune system produces antibodies to that allergen. Those antibodies in turn cause certain cells in your body to release chemicals called histamines into your bloodstream. It's these histamines that cause the symptoms you notice as an allergic reaction.

Many people with allergies learn to live with and treat the symptoms of allergic reactions as they arise. Some allergic reactions, however, can be dangerous and even deadly. For example, some allergic reactions can triggerasthma attacks that make breathing difficult. An even more severe type of allergic reaction, known as anaphylaxis, can cause problems with breathing and swallowing that can be deadly if not treated quickly.

People can be allergic to all sorts of things. Some of the most common allergies are to foods, such as dairy products, eggs, peanuts, seafood, soy, and wheat. Many people are also allergic to a wide variety of insect bites and stings. Other common allergies involve reactions todust, mold, animal dander, pollen, chemicals, and medicines.

So how do you get allergies? Scientists have discovered that a tendency to develop allergies is often hereditary, which means it's passed down through your genes from your parents. People usually don't inherit specific allergies, though. Instead, children of parents with allergies are more likely to develop allergies themselves.

How likely? If one parent is allergic, a child has a 50% chance of having allergies. If both parents have allergies, there's a 75% chance that their children will develop allergies, too.

Sometimes people are born with allergies to certain things. As they get older, they often outgrow these childhood allergies. Unfortunately, it's also possible to develop new allergies over time as you grow up. Not everyone suffers from allergies. If you have allergies, though, don't worry. You're not alone! The National Institutes of Health estimates that over 50 million Americans suffer from allergies.

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We hope you enjoyed learning about allergies in Wonderopolis today! If you want to learn even more, grab a friend or family member and check out one or more of the following activities:

What are you allergic to? Most people are allergic to something. Many people are even allergic to multiple things. Talk with your friends and family members about the things you're allergic to. Discuss with them the things you do to avoid an allergic reaction. What are your friends and family members allergic to?

Would you know what to do if a friend had a severe allergic reaction? Jump online to check out First Aid for Allergic Reactions to learn the proper ways to respond in the event of an allergic reaction. You never know when your knowledge and quick action might just save a friend's life!

Up for a challenge? Interview the staff at your school or a local restaurant about procedures they have in place to handle customers with allergies. Do they serve certain foods as alternatives to foods that often cause allergies? Do they have special training to handle emergencies in case of a severe allergic reaction? Write a short summary of what you've learned and share it with your friends and family members.

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Helena

Wonderopolis

Oct 5, 2017

Thanks for asking, Helena! We ask that Wonderopolis be listed as the author. Since we do not list the publish date for our Wonders of the Day, you may put the date you accessed this page for information. The following is how you would cite this page:

ania

Wonderopolis

meda

Dec 8, 2015

I have a allergy to something but I don't know what it is because in the morning or a lot durning sunny days when I'm out side i see bright lights and it looks weard and when I'm inside or out side my eyes get itchy watery and I start sneezing and need a tissue

matthew

Wonderopolis

Sep 30, 2014

Thanks for WONDERing with us, Matthew! Researchers have not yet pinpointed why peanut allergies develop. However, some studies have shown that when pregnant women ate peanuts a few times per month, their children were less likely to develop a peanut allergy. The reason is a mystery, and we're hoping scientists unlock it soon! :)

Davin Zamora

Wonderopolis

May 5, 2014

Great question, Davin! Dog and cat dandruff is a very common allergy, though. When you breathe in the dander, your immune system thinks it is something more dangerous than it is, and the dander can cause your nose to run or you could cough and have problems breathing. Thanks for WONDERing with us today, Wonder Friend! :-)

Ms. Howell's class

May 5, 2014

Dear Wonderopolis,
We loved watching and learning more about allergies. Some people in our class have allergies that you were talking about in the article.
By the way, we would like to know more about anaphylaxis.
We think tomorrow's wonder of the day is going to be about steam.
Sincerely,
Ms. Howell's Class

Wonderopolis

May 5, 2014

Hello, Ms. Howell’s WONDERful, WONDERing class! We are so happy that you enjoyed today's Wonder! We're also glad that you asked about anaphylaxis! This occurs when an allergic reaction becomes severe and turns into an emergency situation. Be sure to read about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of anaphylaxis in this article from the National Institutes of Health. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000844.htm Stay Healthy, Wonder Friends! :-)

Hannah

Wonderopolis

May 5, 2014

Yes, Hannah. You can be allergic to pretty much anything. Today's Wonder just talked about the most common allergies.
Here is the hint for tomorrow's Wonder, "Don’t forget to join us for tomorrow’s steamy Wonder of the Day!" Do you have any Wonder Predictions for what it could be? Thanks for WONDERing with us today, Wonder Friend! :-)